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ebeyonder
member
Reged: 10/16/09
Posts: 92
Loc: Cambridge, MA, USA; Singapore
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Hi all, my ETX-LS sometimes loses the ability to slew. For eg, after I asked it to go to an object, it does so, but then I cannot adjust the scope using the arrow keys even after it has stopped slewing and confirmed object acquisition. Other times, I can slew, but after adjusting the slew speed (because alignment is so far off - another story for another day), it loses the ability to slew...
I am really frustrated with this scope. Apart from being unable to get GPS sometimes, its alignment is off and I cannot even adjust the direction using the arrow keys!
Does anyone have similar experience? Thanks
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Scopes: Meade ETX-90; LX-90 8"; William Optics FLT-110 with TEC optics; Stellarvue SV80S with LOMO optics
Mounts: Orion Atlas EQ-G mount (Hypertuned); iOptron SmartStar-E GOTO AltAz Mount
Imaging gear: Orion StarShoot Pro v. 2 Deep Space Colour CCD; Meade DSI Pro III Monochrome CCD; DMK 21AU04.AS; Meade DSI I; Celestron Neximage
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Joe Lalumia
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/24/07
Posts: 4133
Loc: Rockwall, Texas, USA
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You are running firmware version 1.2g correct?
Also this new update info may help you:
http://meade.com/lsupdates/updates.html
and it has been reported that there is a small screw on the CCD camera that can be become loose which can prevent the camera from focusing.
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LX90 8" LNT, SV Nighthawk & TelePOD, ETX 90, Orion XT10i, SV 80/9d, 20x80 binoculars www.texasastro.org
"The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources." - Albert Einstein
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ebeyonder
member
Reged: 10/16/09
Posts: 92
Loc: Cambridge, MA, USA; Singapore
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Hi Joe, yes indeed I am running 1.2g, and I've done the dark frame calibration. Just very strange that sometimes I lose the ability to slew. It's almost like Autostar semi-freezes up.
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Scopes: Meade ETX-90; LX-90 8"; William Optics FLT-110 with TEC optics; Stellarvue SV80S with LOMO optics
Mounts: Orion Atlas EQ-G mount (Hypertuned); iOptron SmartStar-E GOTO AltAz Mount
Imaging gear: Orion StarShoot Pro v. 2 Deep Space Colour CCD; Meade DSI Pro III Monochrome CCD; DMK 21AU04.AS; Meade DSI I; Celestron Neximage
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brianb11213
Post Laureate
Reged: 02/25/09
Posts: 3301
Loc: 55.215N 6.554W
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Quote:
It's almost like Autostar semi-freezes up.
Bad contacts on the cable? I had this issue a couple of times with my LX90, the contacts appeared to be OK but I gave them a blast with a can of contact cleaner & the problem didn't recur.
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ebeyonder
member
Reged: 10/16/09
Posts: 92
Loc: Cambridge, MA, USA; Singapore
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I'll try that the next time I use the scope again, thanks for the suggestion.
But alignment problems continue to plague this supposedly high tech scope. I am really frustrated with it.
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Scopes: Meade ETX-90; LX-90 8"; William Optics FLT-110 with TEC optics; Stellarvue SV80S with LOMO optics
Mounts: Orion Atlas EQ-G mount (Hypertuned); iOptron SmartStar-E GOTO AltAz Mount
Imaging gear: Orion StarShoot Pro v. 2 Deep Space Colour CCD; Meade DSI Pro III Monochrome CCD; DMK 21AU04.AS; Meade DSI I; Celestron Neximage
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Joe Lalumia
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/24/07
Posts: 4133
Loc: Rockwall, Texas, USA
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Two things to try-
1. Yes change the cables. Can you reverse the ends? on that scope? Or try a new one.
2. Reload the firmware.
Beyond that it may require a return to Meade. Check out the Mighty ETX web site. Might be something there that explains this problem. The scope is so new -- not much info around on repairs yet. Weasner on the Mighty ETX site has an LS and may have more info.
Here is his LS page:
http://www.weasner.com/etx/feedback/current/etx-ls.html
Bad Alignment-
Daylight Savings Time = NO
Check Time and Date after GPS acquisition.
Calibrate Motors using the same power source you use outside at night
Calibrate Sensors (corrects for your magnetic deviation)
Other possibles:
Calibrate drives AND Calibrate Finder
If you press the Mode key any current operation STOPS -- page 8 in the manual. You are not pressing MODE while the scope is slewing? Correct?
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LX90 8" LNT, SV Nighthawk & TelePOD, ETX 90, Orion XT10i, SV 80/9d, 20x80 binoculars www.texasastro.org
"The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources." - Albert Einstein
Edited by Joe Lalumia (11/13/09 09:42 AM)
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ebeyonder
member
Reged: 10/16/09
Posts: 92
Loc: Cambridge, MA, USA; Singapore
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Hi Joe,
Many thanks for all your comments.
I will try cleaning the cables. I don't have another one with which to try. I'll also reload the firmware.
As for daylight savings, I can't seem to find an option to turn this on or off in the manual. All I can do is to select the appropriate timezone (although this would have been selected by the GPS). I have selected EST instead of EDT and it says -5 UTC. So I think that's correct.
I think what I will do now is this: I'll reload the firmware, do calibration of everything.
I'm really very, very frustrated by this. This is my second scope as well; the first had a faulty GPS. I've emailed Meade to see what they can do. Two and a half months after buying this thing I still cannot use it well.
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Scopes: Meade ETX-90; LX-90 8"; William Optics FLT-110 with TEC optics; Stellarvue SV80S with LOMO optics
Mounts: Orion Atlas EQ-G mount (Hypertuned); iOptron SmartStar-E GOTO AltAz Mount
Imaging gear: Orion StarShoot Pro v. 2 Deep Space Colour CCD; Meade DSI Pro III Monochrome CCD; DMK 21AU04.AS; Meade DSI I; Celestron Neximage
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Joe Lalumia
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/24/07
Posts: 4133
Loc: Rockwall, Texas, USA
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I will buy one of these as soon as I see the "birthing" issues slow down.
Should be really good for public observing, with the media shows on a small screen.
ANOTHER thread about LS "SITE" information-
http://www.astronomyforum.net/etx-telescope-forum/90537-etx-ls-location-problems-cause-my-guess.html user believes the scope is ignoring Daylight Savings Time
Meade needs a revision to "1.3g" --
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LX90 8" LNT, SV Nighthawk & TelePOD, ETX 90, Orion XT10i, SV 80/9d, 20x80 binoculars www.texasastro.org
"The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources." - Albert Einstein
Edited by Joe Lalumia (11/13/09 11:38 AM)
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ebeyonder
member
Reged: 10/16/09
Posts: 92
Loc: Cambridge, MA, USA; Singapore
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Yes, I'd gone against my better judgment in buying this scope when I could have bought a working Celestron Nexstar scope with half the cost. I was attracted to the "technology" and "gadgetry" behind the scope, but am now having those very things frustrate me to no end.
--------------------
Scopes: Meade ETX-90; LX-90 8"; William Optics FLT-110 with TEC optics; Stellarvue SV80S with LOMO optics
Mounts: Orion Atlas EQ-G mount (Hypertuned); iOptron SmartStar-E GOTO AltAz Mount
Imaging gear: Orion StarShoot Pro v. 2 Deep Space Colour CCD; Meade DSI Pro III Monochrome CCD; DMK 21AU04.AS; Meade DSI I; Celestron Neximage
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ebeyonder
member
Reged: 10/16/09
Posts: 92
Loc: Cambridge, MA, USA; Singapore
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I'm going to start a new thread documenting ALL my problems (not only the slewing one) with this scope and see if anyone shares the same problems that I have. Thanks Joe for all your comments and suggestions!
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Scopes: Meade ETX-90; LX-90 8"; William Optics FLT-110 with TEC optics; Stellarvue SV80S with LOMO optics
Mounts: Orion Atlas EQ-G mount (Hypertuned); iOptron SmartStar-E GOTO AltAz Mount
Imaging gear: Orion StarShoot Pro v. 2 Deep Space Colour CCD; Meade DSI Pro III Monochrome CCD; DMK 21AU04.AS; Meade DSI I; Celestron Neximage
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